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White Sox close to record loss
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White Sox close to record loss

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The 2024 Chicago White Sox are on the fast track to a seemingly inevitable place in baseball infamy.

After reaching the 100-loss mark in their 131st game on August 25, the White Sox now appear to be setting a major league record for most losses in a single season. Chicago entered September 19 with a 36-117 record.

Earlier this year, the Sox set a new American League record with a 21-game losing streak that lasted from July 10 to August 5 – and led to the firing of manager Pedro Grifol and several members of his coaching staff on August 8.

“As we all know, our team’s performance this season has been disappointing on many levels,” said GM Chris Getz.

The worst teams in MLB history

The White Sox are chasing a dubious record for most losses in the modern era, entering September 17 with 115 losses. Here is the ranking of the worst teams in baseball history:

Most losses in a single MLB season (since 1900):

  • 1962 New York Mets: 120
  • 2003 Detroit Tigers: 119
  • Chicago White Sox 2024: 117
  • Philadelphia Athletics 1916: 117
  • Baltimore Orioles 2018: 115
  • Boston Braves of 1935: 115
  • Detroit Tigers 2019: 114
  • Senators of Washington in 1904: 113

(Source: Baseball-Reference.com)

The absolute worst team in baseball history

The only team the White Sox won’t surpass are the 1899 Cleveland Spiders, who had a record of 20-134 and a winning percentage of .130.

The Spiders were a heavyweight in the fledgling National League for some time until the team’s owners bought the bankrupt NL club in St. Louis and transferred almost all of the Spiders’ best players (including legendary pitcher Cy Young) to St. Louis.

As a result, the undermanned Spiders finished the 1899 season with an all-time low of 20-134. The Spiders were one of four NL teams to be signed at the end of that season.

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